Google Updates and SERP Changes - August 2019

[samwest]

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System: The following 12 messages were cut out of thread at: https://www.webmasterworld.com/google/4951811.htm [webmasterworld.com] by goodroi - 10:33 am on Aug 1, 2019 (utc -5)

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Can someone please write in few words, what we have learned from this latest update and what are the thigns that are now important?

1. Don't rely on Google for your income and 2. "They moved your cheese". What's important? quality time with friends and family.

[shraddha26]

Yes, I realize that my site traffic is a bit down and the keyword too.

[Mark_A]

Was there an update around 30/06/19 because that seems to have been a point at which my G Organic traffic went down by about 20%?

[RedBar]

@MP

Content that was impacted by one might not recover - assuming improvements have been made - until the next broad core update is released".

There is one huge problem with posts like this ... "assuming improvements" ... Wtf is that supposed to mean if the webmaster hasn't a clue what "needed" improving?

It's ridiculous Google pronouncements like these over the years that should make everyone realise that it is a pointless and futile act for many to do anything since their nebulous posts are completely worthless.

Of course I am assuming that one's website is constructed correctly to W3C standards to start off with!

[samwest]

The only traffic I'm getting is phone traffic saying "Don't hang up! We've been trying to verify your Google business listing"...click!

[MayankParmar]

I still can't believe the scrapper is ranking and I am not. My article has several backlinks. I don't know what is wrong and what to fix.

If I search for the title of the article, that scrapper shows up.

If I search for a paragraph, that scrapper shows up.

And obviously, it also shows up for the keyword. The scrapper has obviously linked to me and I am getting traffic from them, but not Google!

[Cyril TechWebsites]

And don't forget, only the "elites" are allowed to use static sidebar ads - the ads that stick to the sidebar as the user scrolls down.

I'm not from "elite", but I have a static sidebar ad - I'm using Media.Net and it allows me to show sticky sidebar. And in fact I'm showing the same Adsense ads, but through Media.Net. And that was a solution for me - it gives me additional revenue every day and not so bad comparing to Adsense.

[equidistant]

@MayankParmar

I still can't believe the scrapper is ranking and I am not. The scrapper has obviously linked to me and I am getting traffic from them, but not Google!

Irony of all ironies!

[glakes]

The only traffic I'm getting is phone traffic saying "Don't hang up! We've been trying to verify your Google business listing"...click!

The best is when 4+ lines light up at the same time with the same message!

Traffic for me is lighter today, though Google has sent converting traffic. I'd rather have less traffic and more conversions any day of the week...

[ichthyous]

The only traffic I'm getting is phone traffic saying "Don't hang up! We've been trying to verify your Google business listing"...click!

You too? All I get all day are indian telemarketers now and Google listing spam calls. I block 75% of incoming numbers now. To make matters worse, the only inquiries I am getting now are from places that I don't sell to...today I actually got an inquiry from Reunion Island! The viable USA/UK/Canada/Australia inquiries have vanished. It's like a big joke now and there's now way it's not intentional on Google's part.

[Danibliss]

Positive results for me so far. I'm beginning to see the results of my backlink building efforts for the past months. Keywords are climbing to first page.

[edited by: Danibliss at 9:19 pm (utc) on Aug 2, 2019]

[System]

The following 2 messages were cut out to new thread by robert_charlton. New thread at: google/4958250.htm [webmasterworld.com]
6:10 pm on Aug 2, 2019 (PDT -8)

[seomotionz]

@glakes Yeah that will be great for us too. But many sites solely depend on traffic revenue. So, there is that.

@MayankParmar Are you seeing any improvement or change after August 1? Because I am seeing some change since yesterday. Traffic is low sure but the quality has certainly increased.

[ChokenBako]

Still no improvement here... =(

[MayankParmar]

@seomotionz No, nothing improved :(

[puckparches]

I had my website for over 5 years, over 1000 pages rank #1, then today all of a sudden all my pages disappeared from Google index. I have checked GA, search console and all check OK. No messages or anything. What's going on?

The above post was on August 1st.; yesterday, everything was almost normal again.
I'm glad my site is back again, but at the same time I'm scared that at any moment Google can take me out, and even if my ranking is back, then I have to hope Google AdSense keeps giving me ads. I guess I have to get more backlinks and another source of revenue.

[SweetPotato]

I wouldn't touch a thing @puckparches

[Treud]

This last update I see like 10% more keyword and almost double impression.
Of course it is very far away from pre-June penalty but maybe it is in good way to be lifted soon!

[paranoid android]

Everything continuing in a downward trend. I've checked out my competitors (some of whom are very well established) and they are all on a downward trend too.

In the news/entertainment niche.

[MayankParmar]

<snipped link>

Looks like the DailyMail hasn't recovered yet.


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Mods note: Snipped live link to results page for DailyMail.co.uk on semrush, which....
a) is always changing...
b) is not free

[edited by: Robert_Charlton at 10:43 am (utc) on Aug 4, 2019]
[edit reason] Removed live link to search tool results page... [/edit]

[System]

6 messages were cut out to new thread by robert_charlton and not2easy on Aug 4, 2019.... New thread at: [webmasterworld.com...]




We've split an excellent but off topic discussion to its own thread, and have moved it to the Domains forum, here...

Where are Indian telemarketers getting WhoIs contact info?
https://www.webmasterworld.com/domain_names/4958495.htm [webmasterworld.com]

[edited by: Robert_Charlton at 1:16 am (utc) on Aug 5, 2019]

[seomotionz]

Any change in traffic guys?

[MayankParmar]

[semrush.com...]

It's all quiet.

[seomotionz]

@MP Traffic is still down. Monday traffic flow is also slow than usual.

[MayankParmar]

Another article outranked by scrapper! The scrapper is copying articles of several sites and it has started outranking me for my own article.

What I should do now?

[TerranceM]

I did not notice any positive or negative move yet. Did anyone notice any kind of fluctuation in the positions?

[dhananjay]

@MayankParmar Nothing. I have had multiple experiences with this. The only thing we can rely on is Google, to inspect the imposters and distinguish the sites who actually posted the original content from the scrappers. OR, you can ask them politely to not bluntly copy your content, but it will probably just fail. Thanks to the kind of scum these people are.

However, since June, it feels as if Google is on a trip to promote such sites in SERPs. Almost all of my failed competitors (Many of which simply take my content and spin it) who didn't have a clue on how and what to write to bring traffic (Before June) are suddenly reaching heights in the SERPs.

[RedBar]

@MP

What I should do now?

There's nothing you can do ... A scraper (note one "p") copied one of my sites about 18 years ago (yes 2001) and he still ranks for certain searches however over the years most of his pages have fallen away since he's done nothing else to them in that time whereas I've done loads of updates, new images, more info, gone responsive etc., consequently I outrank him for everything.

I honestly do not comprehend why Google has such a problem with scraper sites since I never, ever see them in Bing, DDG and Ecosia for my searches.

[jmorgan]

As I said in another thread, I've resigned myself to scrapers being part and parcel of the internet.

Someone once said (words to the effect of) don't put anything on the internet if you don't want it copied, because it WILL be copied if it's even remotely worth copying. It's unfortunate, but true.

If you think about it, Google has built an empire out of being the biggest scraper on the planet.

[equidistant]

@redbar

I honestly do not comprehend why Google has such a problem with scraper sites since I never, ever see them in Bing, DDG and Ecosia for my searches.

@jmorgan

As I said in another thread, I've resigned myself to scrapers being part and parcel of the internet.

@dhananjay

The only thing we can rely on is Google, to inspect the imposters and distinguish the sites who actually posted the original content from the scrappers.

Over the years, I have raised a whole lot of DMCA takedown requests with medium, quora, scribd, forums, Google books, facebook, slideshare, online newspapers and many other sources that allow unregulated user generated content. But even though they do oblige (and take down content), it's hard to keep doing that and after a while, you just give up and accept that scrappers will always be there no matter what.

Plus, there is also the case of rewriting (spinning) scrapped content wherein a scrapper hires cheap labor (or uses an automated bot) to simply rephrase the sentences of an article. In this case, you cannot even raise a DMCA as this cannot be considered plagiarism. And some scrappers even copy from multiple articles making it impossible to raise a DMCA.

I have seen many scrapped articles that look exactly similar to the original article including the word count and sub headings. The only changes they make is in rephrasing the content. So even though they have copied the original article a 100%, technically you cannot report them.

You can only sit here in hopes that Google will update it's algo so one day it has the ability to recognize original content and the copycats. But I doubt if this will ever be on their priority list.

[grammarchecker]

Today I have see my site ranking droped. Any update from google?